DOUBLE murder suspect James Allen told police: "You’d have to be a seriously warped and twisted individual to set out to kill an 81-year-old man."

DOUBLE murder suspect James Allen told police: "You’d have to be a seriously warped and twisted individual to set out to kill an 81-year-old man."

A jury heard today how Middlesbrough 36-year-old Allen was arrested in Leeds after an off-duty policeman saw him crossing the road.

He denied the two brutal killings in police interviews read to Newcastle Crown Court.

He was asked by detectives whether he was responsible for the murder of Colin Dunford, 81, in Middlesbrough or Julie Davison, 50, in Whitby.

Allen replied: "I am not."

He later said: "That’s one question I can 100% categorically answer. I am not responsible for the death of Colin Dunford or anybody else."

When asked where he was and for information to eliminate him from the inquiry, he replied: "No comment."

In successive interviews, he made no comment to questions.

Then he said he saw Mr Dunford days before his murder and borrowed £40 and a mobile phone from him.

He said he didn’t go to Mr Dunford’s home on Leven Street on the night of April 22, when it is said the pensioner was battered to death in his home.

Allen said: "100% never went to Colin Dunford’s that night.

"Not in any way, shape or form been in that house that night. Never came, never knocked on the door."

Asked about the intent to kill in the frenzied attack on Mr Dunford, Allen said: "You really think someone sets out to kill an 81-year-old man?"

He denied trying to gag Mr Dunford with a scarf found on his face. He also denied trying to cover his tracks.

Allen accepted he went to the flats where Julie Davison lived on Church Square, Whitby on April 25, but not to her ground floor flat.

He said: "I’m 100% not responsible for her death or anybody else’s death... I can’t make it any clearer. I did not kill this woman and I have not been in this property."

Allen denied getting into the flat of Ms Davison, a trainee St John Ambulance first aider, by showing her his injured foot and her offering to help.

He did not give an account of his movements, telling officers: "It’s an easy way for me to get someone else in trouble."

Allen was told: "If you’re implying someone else is responsible for this murder... please help us." He answered: "I can’t do that."

He later said he was with a man named Scott at the flats buying drugs. He said Scott - a man with whom he’d been in prison - came out of the ground floor flat, locked the door and threw the keys away.

Allen said he swapped his bike with Scott for a laptop and £40.

He later said Scott didn’t exist and he’d made him up, then he said he was trying to annoy police.

Allen said: "Whether you believe me or not, it’s totally up to you. I don’t give a **** either way. I’m getting charged with murder in 15 minutes anyway and you know the answer to that question."

Allen referred to a Bowie knife which he said should carry Ms Davison’s and Scott’s DNA, but he was not prepared to show police where the knife was.

Detective Constable Andrew Dudman from North Yorkshire Police said they tried to identify "Scott", with no success.

Rod Hunt, defending, asked about a man named Scott arrested in the Middlesbrough area the day after the discovery of Julie Davison’s body.

The detective agreed that the arrest was for a knifepoint offence, but didn’t know what happened to the suspect.

In the interviews, Allen agreed he believed he was going to prison because of a report to police by a woman, which started a "chain of events".

Five witnesses picked him out at identification procedures, including four who saw him at the Church Square flats.

He said the ring he sold at Scarborough Cash Converters was his and his girlfriend’s engagement ring.

Temporary Sergeant Benjamin Ryder from West Yorkshire Police said he recognised Allen "instantly" crossing the road in front of him as he drove to work in Leeds on April 29.

He called for assistance which arrived within minutes and Allen was arrested without a struggle.

He told the court: "We all ran towards Allen shouting at him to stand where he was. At 7.07 I cautioned and arrested him on suspicion of two murders.

"He had his hands in his pockets at the time. He appeared quite shocked and rocked back on his heels slightly.

"He didn’t put up any fight at all. He just appeared shocked as I ran towards him. He was compliant."

He said Allen mumbled and asked how he knew it was him. He replied that he’d seen his face on the news.

PC Michael Watson said in a statement he told "Allen wait there please" and Allen put his hands in a submissive position saying: "All right."

Allen told police he had a knife and screwdriver, which were found when he was searched.

The knife was described by PC Ian Mattison as "like a Gurkha knife" with a six-inch blade and white tape around the handle. Mr Justice Openshaw saw the knife and said it was a "heavy-duty kitchen knife".

Allen told police he’d been given the knife by a man named Trevor, he was going to hide out on a farm for a few days and he might have needed the knife to "go hunting".

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